National Republican., 1887-09-14
The Party of Protection.

From an article In tho Petersburg fndcr-
AJpeai on the tariff we extract The follow
ing:
Looking to our vast mineral, silvau, pastoral,
agricultural, and other resources, some OF
them Just developing under the fostering care
ofprotection. and thereby making our rapid
growth In manufactures possible, arc we ready
to accept this programme which surrenders us
TO the foreigner, with his convict and paueer
labor? Are we willing to have the tariff taken
of Of foreign tobacco and the internal tazei re-
tanned, increased, and pcrpetuated upon our
own? If the tariff on the necessaries of life
does not protect our farmers, why is there a
cry 10 remove IL? This tariff averages nearly
forty plr cent. on all agricultural and pastoral
productions. Are our farmers prepared to lose
this protection ard yet retain the protection
upon manufactures? The tariff ON bituminous
Goals, iron ores. pig iron, &c, IS bringing
millions upon millions Of dollars among us an.
nualy to open and utilize the buried wealth OF
our mountains and valleys, building railroads
to heretofore inaccessible districts, discovering
and creating values where before was wild
and worthless waste, enhancing the prices OF
our lands, timber, SC, constructing towns aud
cities, raising up mining aud manufacturing
communities, making busy markets where
ing to our progress and prosperity. Shall we
consent TO yield oil this to the free list? DO
we not rather desire greater protection for our
Goals, ores, timber, wool, &n.2 Verify; and If
we are wise we shall insist upon 1t and haveit.
Nobody need mistake the purpose and effect
of auti.protection movements no matter un-
der what pretences 1t may seek to disguise
these They are manife9liy intended, aud
will Just as surely operate t) encourage the In.
portation of foreign products. They work to
suppress home development and independ.
tnce. They are In the interests Of other co IN
tries and against those of Our own land. They
are adverse to that diversity Of enterprise aud
industry which alone can eive this wide re-
ublio self-sustaining thrift and their @ Id is
10 degrade and subdue all our merltorious
productive energies to the European level,
where speculative trade can drive and cheat
them at will.
This Is the very soundest doctrine. 1t is
genuine Republicanism, no matter who says
it, but the Iuder-Apgeal knows that 1t can
not hope to secure help from the Demo
cratic party for such ideas. President
Cleveland, Speaker Carlisle, Secretary Man
ming, Mayor Hewitt, Col. Morrison, and in
fact all the prominent leaders Of the Demo-
cratic party are in favor Of free trade or
what they call revenue reform, which means
the same thing. The only exception among
the Democratic leaders, of any note, is
"samn Randall, and he is being denounced
by all his party associates as Republican
for being in favor OF just what the Indsc-
ApEedl advocates.
The policy OF majority of the Demo
cratic party on the tariff question would be
almost ruin to Virginia; the Indcr-Appea
knows 1t, and yet strangely enough advo
Gates the election of men to carry out thai
policy. That paper should have the cour
age Of its convictions aud declare for til,
party which favors the doctrines 1t advo
cates-the great Republican party-th,
party Of protection.